Generating 3D topiaries from base geometric shapes

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) is increasingly used to simulate real-world environments in immersive digital spaces. One notable application is VR tours, which enable users to explore historically and culturally significant sites-whether they still exist or have been lost-on demand. This thesis presents a method for generating topiaries based on arbitrarily complex 3D geometries. The system requires two primary inputs: a 3D model that defines the desired topiary shape, and an image of the leaf to be applied as surface detail. Leveraging Unreal Engine's Nanite technology, highly detailed leaf textures can be rendered with exceptional efficiency. This allows for the creation of topiaries that maintain visual fidelity even in performance-critical VR environments. The quality and performance of the generated results are evaluated through comparisons with real photographs and benchmark testing.